Item 4 Public Comment Period

In accordance with Board and committee discussions, proposed revised bylaws are being presented to the full Board for review and approval. The proposed change provides for a consent agenda at full Board meetings. The consent agenda would include minutes and items approved through the committee process. The revised bylaws are attached.

Item 6B Approval of New Degree Programs

With the devolution of power to the university boards of trustees, the approval of undergraduate and master’s degree programs is vested within the authority of the University of North Florida’s Board of Trustees. In accordance with the procedures established by UNF’s Board at its February 2002 meeting, the University, with the apporval of the Educational Policy Committee, is submitting its request to add a new academic program. This request is to initiate a new undergraduate degree in Pre-Kdg/Primary Education, within the College of Education and Human Services.

This program has been offered as a track in the college’s elementary education major. The University administration believes this program is more appropriately offered as a stand alone major.

In this proposal, the faculty established community and student needs for the program and clearly identified the resources that will be required to continue this program as a separate major. The proposal has been vetted through the respective departments and colleges, and through UNF’s Faculty Association and its Academic Program Committee. This has also been approved by the Provost and the President.

With the devolution of power to the university boards of trustees, the approval of undergraduate and master’s degree programs is vested within the authority of the University of North Florida’s Board of Trustees. In accordance with the procedures established by UNF’s Board at its February 2002 meeting, the University, with approval by the Educational Policy Committee, is submitting its request to add a new academic program. This request is to initiate a new undergraduate degree in Sport Leadership, within the College of Education and Human Services.

This program has been offered as a track in the college’s physical education major. The University administration believes this program is more appropriately offered as a stand alone major.

In this proposal, the faculty established community and student needs for the program and clearly identified the resources that will be required to continue this program as a separate major. The proposal has been vetted through the respective departments and colleges, and through UNF’s Faculty Association and its Academic Program Committee. This has also been approved by the Provost and the President.

Item 6C Tenure by Reason of Appointment

An individual can achieve tenure in two distinct ways: 1) tenure decision, and 2) tenure by reason of appointment. The two tenure nominations before the committee are being recommended considered under the tenure by reason of appointment procedures.

Under tenure by reason of appointment, senior administrators or distinguished faculty may be granted tenure upon being hired at UNF. The candidate must receive a positive vote from the relevant disciplinary department, even if the appointment is in an administrative capacity. UNF agrees to award tenure as a condition of appointment in order to be competitive in hiring these individuals. The Provost and the President also conduct a thorough review of all instances of tenure on appointment.

Under these guidelines the Educational Policy Committee recommends awarding tenure to Dr. John McAllister, Dean of the Coggin College of Business.

An individual can achieve tenure in two distinct ways: 1) tenure decision, and 2) tenure by reason of appointment. The two tenure nominations before the committee are being recommended considered under the tenure by reason of appointment procedures.

Under tenure by reason of appointment, senior administrators or distinguished faculty may be granted tenure upon being hired at UNF. The candidate must receive a positive vote from the relevant disciplinary department, even if the appointment is in an administrative capacity. UNF agrees to award tenure as a condition of appointment in order to be competitive in hiring these individuals. The Provost and the President also conduct a thorough review of all instances of tenure on appointment.

Under these guidelines the Educational Policy Committee recommends awarding tenure to Dr. Marsha Lupi, Associate Dean in the College of Education and Human Services.

The University, in accord with State requirements, maintains a Student Code of Conduct for defining behavioral rights and responsibilities within this community. The current code, approved by the Board of Trustees in January 2003, is administered through the Division of Student Affairs.

The Student Code of Conduct was promulgated through the regulation development process as set forth by the Board of Governors. The revised code was appropriately noticed and opened for review. There were no public comments received during the comment period.

Over the past year, UNF’s administration working in concert with student leadership has revised and updated this current code. Based on its review and in concurrence with the University administration and members of Student Government, the Educational Policy Committee recommends Board of Trustees approval of the revised code, to include the promulgation of the revised code and the repeal of the current code.

Each year a committee of students, faculty, and staff meet to determine if increases in Student Activities and Services, Athletics, and Health fees are warranted for the upcoming year. The President of the University reviews the proposal coming from this committee, and, in turn, submits his recommendation to the Board of Trustees for their consideration and action.

Currently, the State Legislature has imposed a cap on these fees such that they cannot exceed forty percent of the cost of in-state undergraduate tuition. In keeping with this cap, the University has recommended a $1.01 increase in these fees as shown in the attachment.

The Finance and Audit Committee concurs with the University and submits the attached proposal for full Board approval.

Item 6F Transportation Access Fee

In accord with current (2005) statutory authority, each university board of trustees is authorized to establish fees including a transportation access fee. The transportation access fee is separate from parking fees and can be used to support a campus’s transportation infrastructure.

Based on a recommendation from the University administration, the Finance and Audit Committee supports the Board of Trustees approval of a $1.60 per credit hour transportation access fee for the expressed purpose of funding an on-campus shuttle service. The fee would not be put into place until the University was ready to implement the shuttle service.

If fee collections began at the beginning of next year this fee would generate approximately $576,000: $264,960 in fall 2006, $218,880 in spring 2007, and $92,160 in summer 2007. It is not expected that the University would be ready to implement the shuttle service until late in the 2006–2007 academic year or sometime during the 2007-2008 academic year.

In the University of North Florida’s responses to our most recent operational audit we state: We will continue on a quarterly basis to present change orders to the Board. We also will present to the Board of Trustees for adoption a policy delegating authority for approval of change orders.

In keeping with this response, the administration is requesting that the Board delegate the authority for change orders to the President of the University. Such delegation is in keeping with Section 1013.48 of the Florida Statutes.

Each year the University reviews its parking rates. This process begins with an examination of plans to maintain and expand parking facilities to meet current and future needs.

Using data from this review, a committee of faculty, staff, and students meets to develop a proposal for any needed changes in the current parking rate structure. This proposal serves as a recommendation to the President, who may accept or develop an alternative proposal for submission to the Board of Trustees, for their final approval.

This year, the members of the committee failed to come to consensus on a proposed recommendation. As a result, the committee forwarded to the President the recommendation which received the majority of votes from committee members.

In reviewing the proposal submitted by majority and an alternate submitted by the minority, the President has decided to recommend the alternate proposal to the Board of Trustees.

Pursuant to the powers and duties of University Board of Trustees set forth in Section 1001.74(19), Florida Statutes and by resolution of the Florida Board of Governors, trustees are required to establish a personnel program for all University employees. The Board initially adopted a portion of the rules from the Board of Regents that governed all universities which became UNF’s initial personnel program.

Over the past year, the University has reviewed its current personnel program and developed the attached proposed revision to this program. The goal was to create a program specifically tailored to the needs of UNF and our employees. This effort has, in large part, been completed through a collaborative effort of the Human Resources Advisory Committee (HRAC). The HRAC is comprised of employees from all pay plans and classifications. The members are Charlie Bear, Joann Campbell, John (Jack) Cummings, LaVonne Frison, Deborah Kaye, Everett Malcolm, Lina Monell, Shari Shuman, Marc Snow, and Lance Taylor. The HRAC is chaired by Mary O’Neal, Director of Human Resources.

The proposed personnel program consists of 14 regulations and 15 policies. The regulations are being promulgated through the regulation development process required by the Board of Governors. Regulations differ from policies by virtue of the scope of the audience potentially affected by these statements of operation. Regulations are required when those external to the University may be impacted, (e.g., recruitment, selection and appointment of employees). Policies are designed for those internal to the University, (i.e., sick leave pool).

These policies and regulations are intended to complement any existing Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and where the policies/rules are inconsistent with any existing CBA the CBA will be the controlling authority for those represented employees.

After revision of the personnel program, it was reviewed by the associate vice presidents and then sent to the appropriate constituent groups for review and comment. These constituent groups consisted of the Faculty Association, the A&P Employee Association and the USPS Employee Association. These groups represent all classes of employees that will be covered by the Personnel Program. Additionally, Human Resources conducted focus groups to provide covered employees the opportunity to ask questions, provide comments and to have any questions about the Personnel Program answered. The program was reviewed by the University’s administration.

Attached are three documents: (a) the table of regulations and policies, which contains a brief summary of the objective and purpose of each: (b) the complete regulation or policy statements; and (c) the written comments that were received during the open comment period along with responses to the comments and/or questions by the appropriate University administrator. The members of the Finance and Audit Committee reviewed the comments and/or questions raised during the comment period.

Since being presented to the Finance and Audit Committee, sexual orientation has been added to the diversity statement included in the Personnel Program. This addition has been noticed and opened for review by the university community. No public comments were forth coming.

Following the approval of the Finance and Audit Committee, the Board, as a whole, is asked to vote on accepting the new Personnel Program, which includes the promulgation of regulations and the repeal of existing personnel rules.

If approved, the Personnel Program will be effective February 1, 2006.

Proposed Action: Approval. MOTION and second required.

Item 9 Reports from the Educational Policy Committee

House Bill 137 provides language that would define the processes and procedures under which community colleges would award baccalaureate degrees. The Access Task Force, which reports to the Governor, is offering similar recommendations on community colleges awarding baccalaureate degrees in their preliminary report.

In response to these two initiatives, the Educational Policy Committee has discussed the various issues raised by this bill.

Each year, the U.S. News and World Report puts out a ranking of colleges and universities. Reputations of universities are frequently reported based on these rankings. Often, students selecting schools that best fit their needs will also turn to these rankings.

While there has been criticism of how these rankings are developed and used, most institutions will race to the U.S. News and World Report website when the rankings first come out to see how they have done that year. Many institutions will also examine these rankings to determine how they can improve their results for the next year.

Whether this is, in fact, the best barometer that UNF can use in judging its own success is certainly open to question, but the fact that there are numbers of people who pay attention to the yearly results is not. Thus, the University felt it was important that members of the Board be informed about the most recent rankings.

The University of North Florida has developed a report which details follow up actions that will be taken in response to UNF’s 2004 Operational Audit conducted by the State Auditor General’s Office. This report, already submitted to the Auditor General, provided the Finance and Audit Committee with an action plan for changes in current practices. This report is being forwarded to the full Board for review.

At a prior Finance and Audit Committee meeting, members of the committee requested periodic reviews of DSO budgets. Both TSI and the Foundation have approved new budgets over the past two months. These budgets were presented to the FAC.

Attached is the quarterly update on UNF’s capital projects. It describes current progress on each project, funding sources, and any current issues including change orders. It is being provided for trustee review. Comments can be addressed to Vice President Shuman.

Proposed Action: None

Item 11 Presidential Contract

Trustee Twomey will report on the Ad Hoc Committee's discussion on presidential compensation and contractual terms.